Top 11 Master Plan Proposals for Kuching Unveiled in ‘AIR’ Competition
“From Practical to Boldly Ambitious: The Seven Jurors Reveal Their Selections”
The top 11 finalists for the AIR master plan competition – focused on a parcel of land opposite Kuching International Airport – have been unveiled. The shortlisted proposals span a wide range, from practical designs to audaciously innovative concepts.
Conventional entries proposed phased developments of high-rise residential units integrated with mixed-use commercial spaces. In contrast, bold proposals envisioned "horizontal high-rises" elevated on stilts, preserving much of the natural undergrowth.
During the first stage of judging, the finalists were selected from 75 qualified submissions. The shortlist comprises 11 entries due to a tie in the scores among the top entries. The jury deliberated for over two hours, and the shortlist was a unanimous decision.
Stage two of judging took place on 11 November at the PAM Centre in Kuala Lumpur. All 11 finalists presented their proposals in a 15-minute presentation and Q&A session to the AIR jury panel in a process that lasted nearly eight hours. This was the first time the jury met the minds behind the brilliant submissions, as the entire submission and judging process was kept anonymous.
Jury chair Ar. Adrianta Aziz, president of the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM), praised the high quality of the submissions. “Many entries demonstrated deep thinking, with several offering creative, out-of-the-box solutions for the 13.5-acre site, which is uniquely intersected by a stream.”
He added, “The AIR competition showcases the wealth of architectural, town planning, and landscaping talent in Malaysia. As the only competition of its kind in the country this year, the participants really gave their best. We saw everything from feasible high-rises to bold visions for building with nature.”
The jurors, who had two weeks to review the submissions, convened at HSL Tower on 17 October for the shortlisting process. “HSL’s property team had arranged for A1 boards of all entries to be displayed, allowing us to closely examine each concept before making our final decisions,” Adrianta said.
The AIR master plan competition, a collaboration between PAM and HSL, marks their second partnership following the success of the 2021 Langit high-rise competition. That earlier contest resulted in the development of Langit Citadines Kuching, a joint venture with Singapore’s CapitaLand.
The winning proposal for AIR will receive RM120,000, with RM60,000 for second place, RM30,000 for third, and eight honourariums of RM5,000 each. HSL has committed to developing one of the winning designs, as they did with Langit.
HSL, the developer behind La Promenade — which was designed as "a town within a park" — aims for AIR to set a new benchmark in eco-friendly development. The competition’s tagline, “The AIR Above Us & Di Bawah AIR Mengalir” (translated as "The Water Beneath Us"), reflects this aspiration.
HSL managing director Datuk Paul Yu expressed excitement about the shortlisted proposals. “The jurors’ shortlist is full of strong ideas, from those that could be built tomorrow to more adventurous concepts. Who knows? We might be able to turn one of these bold visions – the forward-thinking rule breakers – into reality.”
The results will be announced on 7 December at HSL Tower, with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as the guest of honour. The event will be live-streamed on HSL’s social media channels.
For more info, visit airkch.com, or search #airkch on social media.
SHORTLISTED ENTRIES
The top 11 finalist designs for AIR master plan competition are now on display for public viewing at L2 of La Promenade Mall.
The AIR jury consists of seven members from the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and Hock Seng Lee (HSL), including distinguished architects from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Kuching, plus two HSL directors.
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